A file of proverbs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, compiled by
Damian Lyons
--------------------------------------------------
-TUS-
Stair an chomhaid:
Fuair me an chuid is mo den seanfhocail (130) seo ar GAELIC-L timpeall 89/90.
Donall McCarthy a scriobh isteach iad i dtus is doigh liom.
Fuair me cupla cinn eile o/ Aine McManus 6/93 (27).
Fuair me na seanfhocail albanach (chuid a dho den comhaid seo) o Caoimhin O Do
nnaile.
Scri/obh me program no dho as C chun an comhad sheanfhocail eireannach a leamh a
gus a thaispeant;
co/d cosul le cookie ar UNIX. Ta an co/d seo ar bunn an chomhaid.
Damian O Liathain, Mean Fomhair 1993.
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Chuid a hAon: Seanfhocail Eireannacha
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157
1 Is fearr rith maith na/ droch sheasamh.
(Better a good run [retreat?] than a bad stand [defence?].)
2 Ni/l sa saol seo ach ceo is ni/ bheimi/d beo ach seal beag gearr.
(It's a misty old world and we are only in it for a short, sharp while.)
3 Is tu/isce a thiteann oi/che Fo/mhair na/ cloch i/ bpoll mo/na.
(An Autumn night falls faster than a rock in a boghole.)
4 Is e/asca caint na/ coisi/ocht.
(Easier talking than doing.)
5 Po/s bean aniar agus po/sfaidh tu/ thiar.
(Marry a woman from the west and you marry the west.)
6 Na/ biodh tu/s acharainn agat na/ deireadh sce/il.
(Don't start a quarrel or end a story [ie take the last word].)
7 Po/s bean o/n sliabh agus po/sfaidh tu/ an sliabh.
(Marry a mountainy woman and you marry the mountain.)
8 Ni/ lia duine na/ baru/il.
(There's no less people than opinions.)
9 San a/it ina mbi/onn toit bi/onn tine,
San a/it ina mbi/onn tine bi/onn teas,
San a/it ina mbi/onn teas bi/onn mna/,
San a/it ina mbi/onn mna/ bi/onn gab!
(Where there's a roof, there's a fire
where there's a fire, there's women
where there's women , there's gossip!)
10 Tu/s maith leath na hoibre.
(A good start is half done.)
11 I dti/r na ndall, is ri/ fear an leathsu/ile.
(In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.)
12 'Cad a dhe/anfadh mac an chait, ach luch a mharu/ !
(What would the son of the cat do but kill mice)
13 Ta/ mise ceart, bi/odh an fheamainn ag an bhfear eile.
(I'm okay, let the guy have the sea-weed.)
14 Da/ mbeadh cuinneog ag an gcat, ba mhinic a phus fe/in inti.
(If the cat had a churn, it's often his own face would be in it.)
15 Mura dtaga leat tar leo!
(If you can't beat them join them!)
16 Is maith an te/ ata/ ag tabhairt achasa/in uaidh.
(The pot calling the kettle black.)
17 N/il aon tintea/n mar do thintean/n fe/in.
(There's no fireside like your own fireside.)
18 Ni/l aon to/in tinn mar do tho/in tinn fhe/in.
(There's no sore bum like your own sore bum.)
19 Is fearr stuaim na/ neart.
(Better sense than strength.)
20 Is fearr buille a chuireann tu/ abhaile na/ dha/ bhuille ar an mbealach.
(Better a lift that gets you home than two lifts on the way.)
21 Is fearr cara sa chu/irt na/ punt sa spara/n.
(Better a friend in court than a pound in the purse.)
22 Sioc tu/s oi/che dhi/ol Fionn na bro/ga;
Sioc deireadh oi/che cheannaigh se/ ari/s iad.
(Frost early in the night and Fionn sells his shoes;
Frost late in the night and he buys them back.)
23 Ni/ thig leat an craiceann is a luach a fha/il.
(You can't keep the skin and get its price.)
24 Is iomai/ la/ ag an uaigh orainn.
(We've to spend many days in the grave.)
25 Naoi n-oiche agus oi/che gan a/ireamh,
O/ Oi/che Shamhna go hOi/che Fhe/il Ma/rtain.
(Nine nights and one night uncounted,
From Hallowe'en to St. Martins Night.)
26 Bro/ga sa chliabha/n agus ladhracha sa lathaigh.
(Shoes are in the basket[storage] and mud's between the toes.)
27 Is treise du/chas na/ oiliu/int.
(Instinct is stronger than training.)
28 Ma/s mian leat ca/ineadh po/s,
Ma/s a/in leat moladh faigh ba/s.
(If it's abuse you want, marry
If it's praise you want, die.)
29 To/g a bhfaighidh tu/ is bi/ ag iarraidh tuilleadh.
(Take what you are given and hope for a bit extra.)
30 Ni/ thagann an o/ige faoi dho/ choi/che;
ach tagann an bro/n faoi dho/ san oi/che
(Youth comes only once to each of us; but sorrow comes twice a night.)
31 Is fearr an tsla/inte mho/r na/ na milte bo/.
(Better great health than many cattle.)
32 Is fearr an tsla/inte na/ na ta/inte
(Better health than riches [cattle].)
33 'Se/ an do/chas lia gan anro/.
()
34 Is fearr socru/ da/ dhonacht na/ dli/ da/ fheabhas.
(It's better to solve the problem than to improve the law.)
35 Imigh leis an saol agus tiocfaidh se/ thart.
(Go to the world and it will come to you.)
36 Na/r laga Dia do la/mh.
(May God never weaken your arm.)
37 An rud is annamh is iontach.
(The rarest thing is the most wonderful.)
38 Is i/ an toi/rneach a scanri/onn ach an tintreach a mharai/onn.
(It's the thunder that frightens but the lightening that kills.)
39 Ceannigh droch rud is bi/ gan aon rud.
(Buy a bad thing and be left with nothing.)
40 Da/ mbeinn-se sna flaithis na/r bhrea/ mo sce/al,
I measc na n-aingeal, na n-aspal sna naomh.
(If I was in heaven wouldn't I have a fine story,
Amongst the angels, the apostles and the saints.)
41 Na/r liachtai gra/inneacha ghainimh na tra/,
Na/ po/igin/ni/ dru/chta ar bharr an fhe/ir,
Na beannachta De/ le h-anamacha do Mharbh.
(More numerous than the grains of sand on the shore,
Than the drops of dew on the tips of grass,
The blessings of God on the souls of the Dead.)
42 Is trom an t-ualach an leisce.
(Laziness is a heavy load.)
43 Leisce chun lui/ agus Leisce chun eiri/. [Mallacht Cholmchill ar na Gael.]
(Reluctant to sleep, reluctant to get up.)
44 Sin i/ bhur sla/inte a Naoimh na hE/ireann,
Sla/inte na n-aingeal is na n-aspal le cheile.
Sla/inte do Pha/draig, os e/ 'bheannaigh E/ire.
(May your joy be great, O Saints of Ireland,
The joy of the angels and the apostles together.
And joy to Patrick, because he blessed Ireland.)
45 Ni/ fhaigheann la/mh iata ach dorn du/nta.
(A closed hand gets only a clenched fist.)
46 Is mairg a thre/igeann an duine gna/th ar dhuine dha/ thra/th.
(Ordinary folk have pity on those [old] folk who are at the
end of their days.)
47 Galar fada ni/or inis ariamh bre/ag.
(A lasting disease never told a lie.)
48 D'fhir cogaidh comhaltar si/ocha/in.
(Towards men of war vouch peace.)
49 Is mairg a bhi/onn go holc agus go bocht ina dhiaidh.
(A sorrow it is that vice follows poverty;
OR
Woe to him who does evil [in order to gain something] and
fails to profit from his misdeeds [remains poor, after all]. )
50 Mair an capall agus gheobhair fe/ar.
(Kill the horse and you will get grass.)
51 Na/ tarraing an anachain ort mara bhfuil tu/ i riocht e/ a chur di/ot.
(Don't draw calamity down on yourself unless you are in shape to
shake it off.)
52 Na/ tabhair cu/l ar comhairle do leasa.
(Don't turn your back on good advice.)
53 Tri/ thre/ithe na Fe/inne: glaine a/r gcroi/,
neart a/r nge/ag is beart de re/ir a/r mbriathar.
(Three characteristics of Fionn's men:
purity of our heart, the strength of our limbs and
our actions according to our word.)
54 An gad is gaire don sco/rnach is co/ir a scaoileadh i dtosach.
(The tie[button] closest to the throat is the one to open first.)
55 Ni/ mairtre go daille.
(Blindness is the worst kind of deformation.)
56 Ni/ bhi/onn an rath ach mar a mbi/onn an smacht.
(The result is only according to the effort.)
57 Feileann spallai/ do bhallai/ chomh maith le clocha mo/ra.
(Pebbles suit walls as well as big rocks.)
58 Go dtuga Dia fairsinge do chroi/ i gco/nai/ duit.
(May God grant you a big heart always.)
59 Beireann cu/ mall ar a chuid.
(A hound stalks his prey slowly.)
60 Mol an o/ige agus tiocfaidh si/.
(Praise youth and it will flourish.)
61 Is fearr seo dhuit amha/in na/ dha/ gheobhaidh tu/.
(Better one here you are than two you will get.)
62 Is measa cara fealltach na/ namhaid follasach.
(A treacherous friend is worse than an avowed enemy.)
63 Bi/odh dha/ abhras ar do choigil agat.
(Let you always keep two threads on your spool.)
64 Tri/ bhua an duine shona: fa/l, faire, moche/iri/.
(Three attributes of a happy man: guarding, watching, early rising.)
65 Sonas ort agus se/an, is an chuid eile orm fe/in.
(May happiness and good fortune be your lot, and may I have what is over.)
66 Is fearr rud maith daor na/ droch rud saor.
(Better a good der thing than a cheap bad thing.)
67 Ni/ raibh 'maith go leor' go maith ariamh.
('Good enough' was never good.)
68 'Si/ capall na hoibre an bia.
(Food is the horse for work.)
69 Is minic a bhi/ gra/nna gnai/u/il agus dathu/il dona.
(It's often ugly was mannerly and handsome was horrible.)
70 Taithi/ a ghni/onn ma/istreacht
(Practice makes perfect)
71 Se/ Dia a rathai/onn.
(It is God that prospers.)
72 Ni/l breith ar an gcloch a caitear.
(There's no control upon the stone that is thrown.)
73 'Gach re/ la/ o/ mo/ la/-sa amach', adeir Bri/d.
('Every second day from my day onwards' says Bri/d.)
74 Fa/ilte duit, a Mhuire mho/r,
A Mhaighdean shi/orai/,
A/r ndi/dean cho/ir.
(Welcome to you Oh mighty Mary
Oh eternal Virgin,
Our rightful sanctuary.)
75 An rud is gaire don chroi/, 'se/ is gaire don bhe/al.
(Whatever is closest to the heart, it's that is closest to the mouth.)
76 Oi/che Fhe/il Fiona/in a chuireann mi/r ar an bhfuacht.
(It's the eve of Finian's Feast [FF=12 Dec] that marks the start of the cold [w
eather].)
77 Po/s bean oilea/in is po/sfaidh tu/ an t-oilea/n ar fad;
Po/s bean as gleann is po/sfaidh tu/ an gleann uilig.
(Marry an island woman and you marry the whole island;
Marry a woman from the glens and you marry the whole glen.)
78 Na/ po/s bean gan locht [mar ni/l a leithe/id ann !]
(Don't marry your ideal woman [because there is no such thing !])
79 Is teoide don mbrat [bplaince/ad] a dhu/bladh
(Your cloak [blanket] will be all the warmer for being doubled)
80 Seo sla/inte na ndaoine a bheidh ag du/bla/il a bplaince/ad anocht !
(Here's health to all who will be doubling their blankets tonight!)
81 An te/ ata/ caifeach lena o/ige beidh se/ bocht lena aois.
(One who is a spendthrift in youth will be poor in old age.)
82 Is fearr bheith cinnte na/ bheith caillte.
(Better to be sure than to be lost.)
83 An te/ ata/ caifeach lena o/ige beidh se/ bocht lena aois.
(One who is a spendthrift in youth will be poor in old age.)
84 Ta/ an spa/ra/il chomh maith leis an saothru/.
(Saving[preserving] is as important as cultivation.)
85 An te/ nach trua leis do cha/s, na/ de/an do gheara/n leis.
(One who hasn't sympathy for your problem, don't bring your complaint
to them.)
86 Ta/ an da/ "b'fhe/idir" ann - b'fhe/idir go bhfuil agus b'fhe/idir
nach bhfuil.
(There are the two "maybe"s - maybe it is and maybe it isn't.)
87 Is iomai/ la/ sa chill orainn.
(We've to spend many days in the church[grave]yard.)
88 Is fearr lu/badh na/ briseadh.
(It is better to bend than to break.)
89 Ni/ haon mhaith cneasu/ thar ghoimh.
(It's no use curing the symptoms instead of the disease.)
90 Ni/ rogha go Ri/ na cruinne.
(Nothing compares to the King of the world.)
91 Bi/onn caora dhubh ar an tre/ad is gile.
(There are black sheep in the brightest flocks.)
92 An rud a scri/obhann an pu/ca le/ann se/ fe/in e/.
(Whatever the pooka writes he reads it himself.)
93 Bi/onn driopa/s ar na h-amada/in nuair a bhi/onn drugall ar na h-aingil.
(There does be a rush on the fools where there's a reluctance on the
angels.)
94 Nollaig bhrea/ a dhe/anann reilig teann.
(A fine Christmas makes for a full graveyard.)
95 Tosnu/ maith leath na hoibre.
(A good start is half the job.)
96 Coinnigh do shiopa agus coinneoidh an siopa thu/.
(Look after your shop and your shop will look after you.)
97 La/ 'le Pa/draig - Thug Pa/draig grian leis agus Mi/chea/l an tsi/on.
(Patrick's Day - Pa/draig gave it the sun and Michael the calm weather.)
98 Aithni/tear cara i gcruatan.
(In hardship a friend is recognised.)
99 Binn le neach a mholadh fe/in.
(Melodious to everyone is praise.)
100 Is fearr cara sa chu/irt na/ punt sa spara/n.
(Better have a friend in court than a pound in your purse.)
101 Ar oi/che Cinn an Da/ La/ Dhea/ag beidh cuimhne grinn go he/ag.
(On the night of the twelfth day [of Christmas] there will be a
sharp recollection until death.)
102 Lui/mse le Dia is go lui/ Dia liom,
Crios Mhuire tharam is me/ i suan trom.
(I rest myself in God and may God rest in me,
Mary's girdle about me and I in deep slumber be.)
103 Nuair a fheiceann tu/ an ghealach dearg,
Tiocfaidh ar an stoirm fearg.
(When you see a red moon,
An angry storm is coming soon.)
104 aer dearg thoir -- fearthainn agus cur
aer dearg thiar -- teas agus grian.
(red in the east, rain and foam
red in the west, heat and sun)
105 Di/ogha gach si/ne sioc ach is measa si/or bha/isteach.
(Everyone hates enduring frost but endless rain is worse.)
106 Is fearr na bro/ga a chaitheamh na/ na bra/illi/ni/.
(It's better to wear down your shoes than your sheets.)
107 Bi/ go moch in do shui/ is go luath in do lui/,
Is ni/ fada go mbeidh tu/ chomh saibhhhir le ri/.
(Be early out of bed and go early to your rest,
And it won't long you'll be as rich as a king.)
108 Thuas seal, thi/os seal, sin mar a bhi/onn an saol.
(Up for a while, down for a while, that's just how the world is.)
109 An te/ a bhi/onn thuas o/ltar deoch air
an te/ a bhi/onn thi/os buailtear cic air.'
(The one who is above is drunk to
the one who is beneath gets kicked.)
110 An bhfacha tu/ an bacach
no/ an bhfacha tu/ a mhac?
Ni/ fhacha me/ an bacach
is ni/ fhacha me/ a mhac,
ach da/ bhfeicfinnse an bacach
no/ da/ bhfeicfinnse a mhac,
ni/ bhacfainn leis an bacach
is ni/ bhacfain lena mhac!
([A tongue twister]
Did you see the cripple
or did you see his son?
I didn't see the cripple
and I didn't see his son,
but if I see the cripple,
or if I see his son,
I won't pay any heed to the cripple
and I won't pay any heed to his son.)
111 An te/ a fhanann le co/ir faigheann se/ e/.
(He who waits with justice, gets it.
He who waits for a fair wind will get it [at sea].)
112 Ma/ bhi/onn long is lo/n agat gheobhaidh tu/ co/ir [uair e/igin].
(If you have a ship and a cargo, you will get a fair wind
[sometime].)
113 An te/ ta/ tuirseach is furast a leaba a cho/iriu/.
(The one who is weary, it is their bed is easiest to make.)
114 Is maith an scatha/n su/il carad.
(An excellent mirror is the eye of a friend.)
115 An te/ bhi/onn amuigh fuarann a chuid.
(He who is out of the house, his dinner gets cold.)
116 Tagann cothromai/ocht si/ne na huaire
(Equality comes with the spread of time)
117 Is treise Dia na/ do/chas.
(God is stronger than hope.)
118 An te bhi/onn ag magadh bi/onn a leath faoi fe/in.
(The person who is always joking, are themselves half the joke.)
119 Na/ de/an no/s aagus na/ bris no/s.
(Don't make a custom and don't break a custom.)
120 Cailltear bo/ an tseaca nuair a bhlea/ntar bo/ an tsneachta.
(The cow of the frost will be lost when the cow of the snow is milked.)
121 Ni/fhaigheann minic ono/ir.
(Often gets no honour.)
122 Is minic a bhain duine slat a bhuail e/ fe/in.
(Often when a person seizes a stick, it strikes themselves.)
123 E/ist mo/ra/n agus aithris beaga/n.
(Listen to everything and repeat little.)
124 Ni/ dheanfadh an saol capall ra/s d'asal.
(There's no way in the world to make a racehorse out of an ass.)
125 Cuir s/ioda ar ghabhar is gabhar i gc/ona/i /e.
(Put silk on a goat and it's still a goat!)
126 Ni/ maith samhail a thea/nn i/ bhfad.
(Don't push a comparison too far.)
127 Thuas ata/ an chabhair agus anuas ata/ a haghaidh
(Help is above, and it is facing in our direction.)
128 Is maith an tra/th di/ tart.
(A good time to take a drink is when you are thirsty.)
129 Tri/ rudai/ faoin o/l; e/ o/l, e/ iompar agus e/ i/oc.
(Three essentials regarding the drink; to be able take it,
to hold it and to pay for it.)
130 Ni/l tuile nach dtra/nn ach tuile na ngra/st.
(Every tide ebbs except the tide of grace.)
131 Is minic a ba/dh long la/imh le cuan.
(Often a ship sank right beside the harbour.)
132 Bi/onn dha/ insint ar gach sce/al,
Agus bi/onn dha/ leagan de/ag ar gach amhra/n.
(There are two tellings to every story,
And twelve versions of every song.)
133 Na Faoilli/ a mhari/onn na caoirigh, Ma/rta a mhari/onn daoine.
(February kills sheep, March kills people.)
134 Ni/ bhi/onn saoi gan lucht
(Even the wise are not without fault )
135 Is binn be/al ina tost
(A silent mouth is sweet.)
136 Ma/s maith, is mithid
(If it's good, it's fitting[appropriate].)
137 Aithni/onn ciaro/g chiaro/g eile
(One beetle knows another.)
138 Ritheann an charr|fear|ri/omhaire seo ar phoiti/n
(this car/man/computer runs on poteen.)
139 Labhair Be/arla liom agus brisfidh me/ do phus
(Speak English to me and I'll break your face.)
140 Scaoil amach an bobaili/n!
(It means pull out all stops, let it rip.)
141 Is tre/ise ti/r na/ tiarna.
(A country is stronger than a lord.)
142 Is minic a bhris be/al duine a shro/n.
(A person's mouth often broke his nose.)
143 Is minc a bhi/ cu/ mall sona.
(A slow hound was often happy.)
144 Fanann fear sona le se/an.
(A content man waits for luck.)
145 Giorrai/onn beirt bo/thar.
(Two people shorten the road.)
146 Ni/ bheathai/onn briathra bra/ithre.
(Words won't feed brothers.)
147 Capall na hoibre an bia.
(Food is the horse of work.)
148 Is maol gualainn gan dhearthair.
(Unprotected is the shoulder without a brother.)
149 Is fearr an t-imreas na// an t-uaigneas.
(Strife is better than loneliness.)
150 Ni/ haitheantas go haonti/os.
(You don't know someone until you live with them.)
151 Bi/onn adharca fada ar na ba thar lear.
(Foreign cows have long horns.)
152 Ni/ hi/seal na/ huasal, ach thi/os seal 's thuas seal.
(There is neither common nor noble,
but temporary success and temporary failure.)
153 Is fearr daibhir sona na/ saibhhir dona.
(It's better to be poor and content than to be rich and wretched.)
154 Ni/ mar a shi/ltear bi/tear.
(Things are rarely what they seem.)
155 Is fearr goradh cu/l cos na/ fiche bo/ ar cnoc.
(It's better to warm the backs of your legs
than to have twenty cows on a hill.)
156 Sceitheann fi/on fi/rinne.
(In vino veritas. [In wine, truth])
157 Ta/ Bu/rcach ar Bhu/rcach na luaithrigh,
ach ni/l ach Bu/rcach ar an mBu/rcach is uaisle.
(The Burke of the ashes is a Burke,
but even the most noble of Burkes is only a Burke.)
--------------------------------
Chuid a Dho: Seanfhocail Albanacha
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1. Anail a Ghaidheil, air a mhullach!
The Gael's breathing place - on the summit!
2. Abair ach beagan agus abair gu math e.
Say but little and say it well.
3. Abair sin, nuair a chaitheas tu cruach mho\ine co\mhla ris.
Say that, when you have spent a stack of peats along with
it.
4. A bhliadhn' is gainne a mhin,
Dean fuine mho\r aineamh.
During the year when meal is scarce
Let big bakings be few.
5. A'chungaidh leighis is goirte,
'Si is moth'tha deaneamh feum.
The medicine (or liniment) that hurts the most
Is generally the best healer.
6. A cur suas inisg, sa bun aig a bhaile.
Spreading a fama, and its root at home.
7. A ghaoth ag iarraidh na'm port.
The wind seeking the harbours.
8. A h-uile cu\ air a chu\ choimheach.
All dogs down on the strange dog.
9. A sgaoladh na'n sguab 's a trusadh na'n siobag.
Scattering the sheaves and gathering the straws.
10. Aithnichear an leomhan air scriob de iongann.
The lion is known by the scrath of his claw.
11. An ra\mh is fhaisg air laimh, iomair leis.
The oar that's nearest at hand, row with it.
12. An neach nach ci\nn na chadal,
Cha chi\nn e na dhuisg.
He who will not prosper in his sleep.
Will not prosper when awake.
13. A mheud 'sa gheibh thu gu math,
Se'n lughad a gheibh thu de'n olc.
The more you get of what's good,
The less you will get of what's bad.
14. Am fear is fliuche, rachadh e do'n tobair.
He who is wettest, let him go to the well.
15. An luigh nach fhaighear cha'n i\ a chobhras.
The herb that cannot be found will not give relief.
16. A taomadh na mara le cliabh.
Bailing the sea with a creel.
17. A h-uile rud ach an rud bu cho\ir.
Everything but the right thing.
18. Adhaircean fada air a chrodh a bhios anns a cheo\.
Long horns on the cattle that are seen through the mist.
19. Air gnothaich na cuthaig.
On the cuckoo's business.
A1. - A chuir a ruith na cuthaig.
Sent to chase the cuckoo.
S.P.- A gowk's errand.
20. An ceo\l air feadh na fi\dhle.
The music throughout the fiddle.
21. An la\mh a bheir 'si a gheibh,
Mar a d'thugar do dhroch dhuin'e.
The hand that gives is the hand that will receive,
Except when given to a bad man.
22. Am fear, is fhaide chaidh bho'n bhaile,
Chual e'n ceo\l bu mhilse leis nuair thill e dhachaidh.
Who farthest away e'er did roam
Heard the sweetest music on returning home.
23. A lion beag i\s bheagan, mar a dh' ith an cat an t-iasg.
Little by little, as the cat eat the fish.
24. An rud a nithear gu math, chithear a bhuil.
What is well done will be shown by results.
25. A chuid de Fhlaitheanas dha.
His shore of Paradise to him.
"Flaitheanas" according to our etomologists, is from "Flath
Innis", "The Isle of Heroes," the heaven of Celtic
Mythology. Here the souls of the brave (none other were
deserving), went for enternal and blissful repose, at the
end of their warrior-careers. Cowardice was deemed a sin
that barred the guilty from entering that coveted place.
The other place, in those days, was not the brimstone-fueled
fire of later beliefs, but a desolated area of ice and snow;
cold, not heat, was the meted punishment.
26. Am facal a thig a Ifrinn - Se a gheibh, ma 's e 's mo bheir.
The message from hell - Give to the highest bidder.
27. An rud a the\id fad o'n t-su\il
The\id e fad o'n chri\dhe.
What goes far from the eye
Will go far from the heart.
E.P. - Out of sight out of mind.
But even proverbs may be mistaken sometimes, as for
instance:-
"Kind eyes may speak the heart's desire,
When heart for heart doth beat,
But fond hearts will communicate
When the eyes cannot meet."
28. An turadh, an t-anmoch, am muir-la\n, 's an Do\mhnach.
Fair weather, the evening, high water, and the Sabbath.
Does this imply a choice of circumstances?
29. An uair a bhios sinn ri o\rach
Bidheadhmaid ri o\rach;
'S nuair a bhios sinn ri maorach,
Bidheadhmaid ri maorach.
When we are seeking gold, let us be seeking gold;
And when we are seeking bait let us be seeking bait.
E.P. - One thing at a time, and everything in its own time.
30. An uair a chluinneas tu sgeul gun dreach na creid i.
When you hear a tale that is not pleasant, do not believe
it.
This means that one should turn a deaf ear to scandal
mongerig.
31. Am fear nach gheidh na h-airm 'nam na si\th,
Cha bhi iad aige 'n am a chogaidh.
Who keeps not his arms in times of peace,
Will have no arms in times of war.
32. An car a h' anns an t-seana mhaide,
Is duilich a thoirt as.
Straightening the bend in old wood
Is a difficult job.
33. Air re\ir do mheas ort fhe\in
'S ann a mheasas ca\ch thu.
According as thou esteemest thyself
Others will esteem thee.
34. Am boll 'air an sgillinn
Is gun an sgillinn ann.
The boll (of meal) at a penny
And no penny in hand.
35. A cheud sgeul air fear an taighe,
Is sgeul gu la\th'air an aoidh.
The first story from the host,
And tales till morning from the guest.
The one result old Highland manners and customs, with an
"Arabian Nights" atmosphere about them.
36. Am fear a bhios fad aig an aiseig
Gheibh e thairis uaireigin.
He that waits long at the ferry
Will get across sometime.
E.P. - Everything comes to him that waits.
37. Am fear nach seall roimhe
Seallaidh e as a dheigh.
He who will not look before him
Will look behind him.
38. An triuir nach fuiling an cniodachadh,
Seann bhean, cearc, agus caora.
Three that won't bear caressing,
An old woman, a hen, and a sheep.
39. A bheairt sin a bhios cearr,
'Se foighidinn is fhear a dheanamh ris.
The loom (or engine) that has gone wrong
Patience is best for putting it right.
40. An ra\thad fada glan, is an ra\thad goirid salach.
The long clean road, and the short dirty road.
The latter is taken by those who are in a hurry to get rich,
irrespective of the means adopted.
41. A bho\ is miosa 'th' anns a bhuaile
'S is cruaidh ni ge\um.
The worst cow in the fold
Lows the loudest.
42. An rud nach gabh leasachadh,
'S fheudar cur suas leis.
What cannot be helped
Must be put up with.
E.P. - Crying over spilt milk, etc.
43. An ni 's an teid da\il theid dearmaid.
What is delayed will be forgotten.
44. An rud is fhiach a ghabhail, 's fhaich e iarraidh.
If it is worth taking, it is worth asking for.
45. An rud a thig gu dona falbhaidh e leis a ghaoith.
What is got by guile will disappear with the wind.
46. A mire ri cuilein, cha sgur e gus an sgal e.
Playing with a pup ends in a howl.
47. Be sin an conadh a chuir do 'n choille.
That were sending fuel to the wood.
E.P. - Sending coals to Newcastle.
48. Bu mhath an sga\than su\il caraid.
A friend's eye is a good looking-glass.
49. Buinidh urram do'n aois.
Honour belongs to old age.
50. Bheir an e\igin air rud-eigin a dheanamh.
Necessity will get something done.
E.P. - Necessity is the mother of invention.
51. Bheirear comhairle seachad ach cha toirear giu\lan.
Council can be given, but not conduct.
52. Bheir duine beath' air e\igin, ach cha toir e rath air e\igin.
A man may force a livelihood, but he cannot force fortune.
53. Bheir aon fhear each gu uisge
Ach cha toir a dha\-dheug air o\l.
One man can lead a horse to the water,
But twelve cannot make it drink.
Ae man may lead a horse to the water,
But ane and twenty winna gar him drink.
- Allan Ramsay's Proverbs.
54. Bior a d'dho\rn na fa\isg;
Easbhuidheachd ri d' na\mhaid na ruisg;
Ri gearradh-sgian a d' fheol na e\isd;
Beisd nimheil ri d' bheo\ na duisg.
A thorn in your grasp, do not squeeze;
Thy wants to thine enemy do not bare;
The dagger's point to your flesh do not hear;
A venomous reptile do not rouse.
55. Bu mhath i\mpidh a choilich mu shiol a thoirt do na cearcan.
Well was the cock's petition for corn for the hens.
56. Be sin i\m a chuir do thaigh a\raich.
That were sending butter to the farmhouse.
57. Bithidh bean-mhuinntir aig an fheannaig 's an Fhoghar.
The crow has her maid-servant at harvest time.
58. Beiridh caora dhubh uan geal.
A black ewe may have a white lamb.
59. Beus na tuath, far am bithear se nithear.
The manners of the folk where thou art thou must adopt.
E.P. - When in Rome do as the Romans do.
60. Balach, is balgaire tighearna,
dithis nach co\ir a leigeil leo\tha.
A conceited fellow and a laird's tyke
Two who should not be allowed their own way.
62. Buail am balach air a charbad,
Is buail am balgair air a shro\in.
Strike the knave on the neck,
And knock the tyke on the nose.
63. Bithidh sonas an lorg na caitheamh.
Felicity follows generosity.
64. Bhiodh sonas aig an strodhaire
Na'm faigheadh e mar a chaitheadh e.
A man's faults will be as large as a mountain ere he himself
sees them.
65. Bithidh cron duine cho mo\r ri beinn mas leir dha fhe\in e.
A man's faults will be as large as a mountain ere he himself
sees time.
66. Bithidh na gabhair bodhair 's an fhoghar.
The goats will be deaf as those who will not hear.
67. Brisidh an teanga bhog an cneath.
A smooth tongue will blunt wrath.
E.P. - A soft answer turneth away wrath.
- Solomon.
68. Bithidh an osnaich dheireanach ca\idhteach.
The last sigh will be painful.
69. Biodh earlas meirleach agad air gach neach,
Ach na dean meirleach de neach idir.
Have the caution of a thief over every one,
But make no one a thief.
70. Bha iasad ga ghabhail 's ga thoirt riamh air feadh an t-
saoghal.
Borrowing and lending have always been world-wide habits.
71. B'olc-an-airidh gun deanadh aimsir thioram dolaidh.
'Twere a pity that dry weather should do harm.
72. Bo\idheach, cha'nn ann da\icheil.
Pretty, not plausible.
73. Beiridh am beag tric air a mho\r ainmig.
The little frequent will overtake the infrequent large.
74. B' i sin reul 's an oidhche dhoilleir.
That were a star on a dark night.
75. B'fhearr a bhi gun bhreith na bhi gun teagasg.
Better be without being than without instruction.
76. B'fhearr gun to\iseachadh na sguir gun chriochnachadh.
Better not to begin than stop without finishing.
77. Bheir eu-dochas misneachd do'n ghealtair.
Desperation will give courage to a coward.
78. Bidh an u\bhal i\s fhearr air a mheangan is a\irde.
The best apple will be on the highest bough.
79. Cha bhi am bochd-soghail saoibhir.
The luxurious poor will not be rich.
An apt companion to the above is:-
80. Cha bhi aon duine crionna
'A measg mille amadan.
There will not be one wise man
Among a thousand fools.
81. Cha tig as a phoit ach an toit a bhios innte.
No fumes from the pot, but from what it contains.
82. Cha bhi luathas agus grinneas an cuideachd a' cheile.
Quick and fine don't combine.
83. Cha d'thug gaol luath
Nach d'thug fuath clis.
Quick to love, quick to hate.
84. Cha do chuir a ghuallain ris
Nach do chuir tu\r thairis.
None ever set his shoulder to
That did not what he sought to do.
85. Cha toir an uaisle goil air a phoit.
Gentility will not boil the pot.
86. "Cha'n eil mi na m' sgoileir, 's cha'n a\ill leam a bhi,"
Ma'n d'thuairt a mhadadh-ruadh ris a mhadadh-allaidh.
"I am not a scholar, and don't wish to be",
As the fox said to the wolf.
There are several versions of the story from which the above
saying originated. Campbell's "West Highland Tales," and
Nicholson give slightly different versions,
The following is one:- The fox and the wolf, walking
together, came upon an ass quietly grazing in a meadow. The
fox pointed out an inscription on one of the ass's hind
hoofs, and, addressing the wolf, said: "Go you and read
that, you are a scholar and I am not." The wolf, flattered
by the request, went proudly forward, and coming too close
to the ass, got knocked in the head, leaving the fox to
enjoy their common spoil.
87. Cha'n i a mhuc is sa\imhche
Is lugh a dh'itheas de'n drabh.
It is not the quietest sow that eats the least.
88. Ceud mai\lle fa\ilte.
A hundred thousand welcomes.
89. Cha robh naigheachd mho\r riamh
Nach robh na chall do dhuin'eigin.
There never was great news
But was a loss to somebody.
90. Chaidh theabh le creag,
Is theabh nach deachaidh.
"Almost" went over a rock,
And almost didn't.
91. Cha'n aithnich thu duine
Gus am bi do ghnothaich ris.
You will never know a man,
Until you do business with him.
92. Cha'n fhiach gille gun char,
Gus am bi do ghnothaich ris.
The man without a turn is worthless,
And the man of many turns is worthless.
The man of many turns implies a "twister".
93. Cha'n eil mo\ran lochd 's an cri\dh a bhios a gabhail o\ran.
There is not much guile in the heart that is aye singing
songs.
94. Cha'n eil u\aill an aghaidh tairbh.
Pride is not against profit.
95. Cha'n eil ba\s fir gun ghra\s fir.
There is no man's death without another man's gain.
96. Cha sheas ca\irdeas air a le\th-chois.
Friendship will not stand on one leg.
97. Coin bhadhail is clann dhaoin eile!
Stray dogs and other people's children!
98. Cha'n fheum an ti a shealbhaicheas an toradh am bla\th a
mhilleadh.
He who would enjoy the fruit must not spoil the blossom.
99. Cha'n fhiach bro\n a ghna\th,
'S cha'n fhiach ceo\l a ghna\th.
Sorrowing always is not good,
And music (mirth) always is not good.
100. Cha cheo\l do dhuin' a bhro\n uil' aithris.
It is no music to a man to recite all his woe.
101. Cha toir muir no mo\nadh a chuid bho dhuine sona,
Ach cha ghleidh duine dona allt.
Neither main nor mountain can deprive a prosperous man of
his possessions,
But the unfortunate man cannot retain a rivulet.
102. Cha do bhris deagh urram ceann duine riamh,
Agus is mo\r-am-beud a bhi uair 's am bith
as aonais.
Due civility never broke a man's head,
And great the pity to be at any time without it.
103. Cha chuirear gad air gealladh.
A promise can never be tied (or tethered.)
104. Cha'n eil fealladh ann cho mo\r ris an gealladh gun
choimhlionadh.
There is no deceit so great as a promise unfullfilled.
105. Cluinnidh am bodhar fuaim an airgead.
The deaf will hear the clink of money.
106. Cha dean cridh misgeach breug.
The inebriated heart will not lie.
107. Cha robh na sgeulaiche nach robh breugach.
There ne'er was a tale-bearer but was un-truthful.
108. Cha'n uaisle duine na cheird.
No man is above his trade.
--------------------------------
Co/d UNIX chun na seanfhocail a thaispeant
--------------------------------
#include
#include
#include
/* Gaelic Cookie program. Needs the data file PROVERB_FILE
to be be defined. That data file should be in the format:
file ::= max cookies*
max ::= integer, max indexnumber of cookie records
cookie ::= indexnumber gaelictext (translation)
Damian Lyons January 1991 */
#define PROVERB_FILE "/betty/b2/dml/util/seanfoclail"
time_t tloc; /* to hold current time (seed for random) */
/* a procedure to read into array str from file f
until limit character limit is seen */
read_till(f,limit,str)
FILE *f; char limit, *str;
{ int i=0;
while ( (str[i]=getc(f))!=limit) i++;
str[i]='\0'; /* make end of string */
}
/* the main program */
main(argc,argv)
int argc; char *argv[];
{ char sean[400],miniu[400];
int mead,imhir,i=1,romha,bearla=1,debug=1,abair=1;
FILE *src;
src = fopen(PROVERB_FILE,"r");
fscanf(src,"%d",&mead);
if (argc>1) /* any arguments ?*/
while (imead||romha<1) /* index out of bounds ? */
{ printf("Seanfhocla indices: 1..%d\n",mead); exit(0); }
}
}
if (bearla!=0&&debug!=0&&abair!=0) /* if a known flag */
{ printf("gc (Gaelic Cookie); flags -b (include English translation)\n");
printf(" -d (print some debug info)\n");
printf(" -a (to print seanfhocal )\
n");
exit(0);
}
i++;
}
if (abair!=0) /* if not prespecified index, then choose at random */
{ time(&tloc); srand((int)tloc); /* set the seed */
romha = rand() % (mead+1) ; /* and choose a proverb */
}
if (debug==0)
printf("Imhir %d as %d\n",romha,mead);
/* now locate the chosen seanfhocal */
for(imhir=1; imhir<=romha; imhir++) /* skip over the rest of the proverbs */
{ fscanf(src,"%d",&i);
if (i!=imhir) printf("number mismatch\n");
read_till(src,'(',sean);
read_till(src,')',miniu);
}
/* and finally print the chosen one */
if (bearla==0)
printf("%s(%s)\n",sean,miniu);
else printf("%s\n",sean);
}
-------------
/* program to filter text and translate "/" to the 8-bit
ascii equivalent accented character. Pipe output of gaelic cookie
program through for better readability.
Damian M. Lyons January 1991*/
#include
#include "let.h"
main()
{char i,c,cp;
while ( (c=getc(stdin))!=EOF)
{ cp = getc(stdin);
if (cp == '/')
switch(c) {
case 'a': putc(LETTER_a_ac,stdout); break;
case 'A': putc(LETTER_A_ac,stdout); break;
case 'e': putc(LETTER_e_ac,stdout); break;
case 'E': putc(LETTER_E_ac,stdout); break;
case 'i': putc(LETTER_i_ac,stdout); break;
case 'I': putc(LETTER_I_ac,stdout); break;
case 'o': putc(LETTER_o_ac,stdout); break;
case 'O': putc(LETTER_O_ac,stdout); break;
case 'u': putc(LETTER_u_ac,stdout); break;
case 'U': putc(LETTER_U_ac,stdout); break;
default: putc(c,stdout); putc(cp,stdout); break;
}
else
{ ungetc(cp,stdin); putc(c,stdout); }
}
}
---------------------
/* file: let.h
This include file contains the LATIN-1 characterset available on SUN3 */
#define LETTER_y_um -1
#define LETTER_p -2
#define LETTER_y_ac -3
#define LETTER_u_um -4
#define LETTER_u_ci -5
#define LETTER_u_ac -6
#define LETTER_u_gr -7
#define LETTER_null -8
#define LETTER_div -9
#define LETTER_o_um -10
#define LETTER_o_sd -11
#define LETTER_o_ci -12
#define LETTER_o_ac -13
#define LETTER_o_gr -14
#define LETTER_n_sd -15
#define LETTER_xis -16
#define LETTER_i_um -17
#define LETTER_i_ci -18
#define LETTER_i_ac -19
#define LETTER_i_gr -20
#define LETTER_e_um -21
#define LETTER_e_ci -22
#define LETTER_e_ac -23
#define LETTER_e_gr -24
#define LETTER_c_cid -25
#define LETTER_ae -26
#define LETTER_a_ang -27
#define LETTER_a_um -28
#define LETTER_a_sd -29
#define LETTER_a_ci -30
#define LETTER_a_ac -31
#define LETTER_a_gr -32
#define LETTER_beta -33
#define LETTER_p2 -34
#define LETTER_Y_ac -35
#define LETTER_U_um -36
#define LETTER_U_ci -37
#define LETTER_U_ac -38
#define LETTER_U_gr -39
#define LETTER_NULL -40
#define LETTER_times -41
#define LETTER_O_um -42
#define LETTER_O_sd -43
#define LETTER_O_ci -44
#define LETTER_O_ac -45
#define LETTER_O_gr -46
#define LETTER_N_sd -47
#define LETTER_D_bar -48
#define LETTER_I_um -49
#define LETTER_I_ci -50
#define LETTER_I_ac -51
#define LETTER_I_gr -52
#define LETTER_E_um -53
#define LETTER_E_ci -54
#define LETTER_E_ac -55
#define LETTER_E_gr -56
#define LETTER_C_cid -57
#define LETTER_AE -58
#define LETTER_A_ang -59
#define LETTER_A_um -60
#define LETTER_A_sd -61
#define LETTER_A_ci -62
#define LETTER_A_ac -63
#define LETTER_A_gr -64
#define LETTER_? -65
#define LETTER_3_4 -66
#define LETTER_1_2 -67
#define LETTER_1_4 -68
#define LETTER_GG -69
#define LETTER_obar -70
#define LETTER_sup_1 -71
#define LETTER_cid -72
#define LETTER_dot -73
#define LETTER_para -74
#define LETTER_mu -75
#define LETTER_ac -76
#define LETTER_sup_3 -77
#define LETTER_sup_2 -78
#define LETTER_pm -79
#define LETTER_ang -80
#define LETTER_bar -81
#define LETTER_reg -82
#define LETTER_minus -83
#define LETTER_neg -84
#define LETTER_LL -85
#define LETTER_abar -86
#define LETTER_copr -87
#define LETTER_um -88
#define LETTER_sect -89
#define LETTER_sbar -90
#define LETTER_yen -91
#define LETTER_box -92
#define LETTER_pound -93
#define LETTER_cslash -94
#define LETTER_i -95
---------------------
-CRIOCH-